Rug cleaning and stretching device



Nav. 7, 19330 J. H. PAMPAIAN El AL RUG CLEANING AND STRETCHING DEVICEFiled Jan. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I ll OJ n02 1-1 t 01 dwmesfl wmmum/Mawuy/Zil/kka/nmn attoz W21 Nov. 7, 1933. J. H. PAMPAlAN ET AL v 9 7 RUGCLEANING AND STRETCHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Nov. 7, 1933 RUG CLEANING AND STRETCHING DEVICE.

James H. Pampaian, Reedley, and Manoug Hf Evkhanian, Pasadena, Calif.

Application January 15, 1931. Serial No. 508,964 10 Claims. .(Cl. 45-24Our invention relates to an improvement in, a rug cleaning andstretching device wherein it is desired to provide a device adapted tosupport rugs in position to be cleaned and stretched.

It is an object of our invention to provide a rug cleaning andstretching device which is adjustable to various sizes of rugs and whichmay be quickly and easily regulated to accommodate a large or small rug.In this manner, our cleaning and stretching device is applicable for usewith any size or shape of rug and is of great value where a large amountof this work is to be done.

It is an object of our invention to provide a portable rug supportingframe so that the rug while held in the frame maybe moved either intoposition over a series of pipes adapted to emit steam for the purpose ofcleaning the rug or may be placed in position to dry and stretch the rugafter the cleaning operation.

It is a purpose of our invention to provide an outer frame which may beadjusted-to accommodate any size of rug and may be secured tightly inthis adjusted position. This outer frame is provided with casters sothat it may be moved from place to place. It is a further purpose of ourinvention to provide an inner frame within the aforementioned outerframe and connected to this outer frame by a series of adjustable screwmembers by means of which the inner frame may be adjusted to the desiredsize.

It is the purpose of our invention to secure a rug by means of readilyremovable clamps within the inner frame of our rug stretching andcleaning device so that by operating the adjustable screw membersconnecting the inner and outer frames the rug which is clamped to theinner frame may be tightly stretched and held in this stretchingposition. In this manner, the rug may be supported in stretched positionover the series of steam pipes which are used for cleaning the rug andthe inner frame may be expanded from time to time during the process tostretch the rug.

It is an object of our invention to provide a means for holding theinner frame while supporting the rug at any desired expanded positionand to provide a means for disconnecting the adjustable screw membersfrom the inner frame so that the inner frame and the rug supportedthereby may be removed from the outer frame and another inner frameinsertedfor the purpose of cleaning and stretching a second rug whilethe first is still being held in stretched position.

Itv is an object of our invention to provide a cleaning unit composed ofa series of steam pipes having holes formed therein to emit steam and toso arrange this cleaning unit that any part of the same may be utilizedwithout the necessity of emitting steam through the pipes of the entireunit. In this manner, when a small rug is to be cleaned only those pipeswhich would be covered by the rug are used to emit steam and theremaining portion of the unit over which the rug does not lie is notutilized. I

It is a feature of our invention that the outer frame is provided withcasters which may if esired, be adjustable to various heights so thatthe outer frame may be raised or lowered. Accordingly, when a largerugis being supported within the inner frame the outer frame may belowered until casters formed on the inner frame come in contact with thefloor at which time the inner frame may be disconnected from the outerframe. By again elevating the outer frame the two frames may beseparated and each rolled to any desired position. In this manner, heavyrugs may be handled which ordinarily would be unwieldly and difficult tosupport.

It is an added feature of our invention to proso vide rug clamps forconnecting the rug to the inner frame which may be opened :or closed ina single movement and which may be adjusted to various thicknesses ofrugs. By utilizing these clamps the rug may be quickly and easily con- 5nected to the inner frame. V l

It is a further object of our invention to provide a supporting meansfor'large rugs which may be secured beneath the rug to support theweight thereof. By this additional supporting means the entire weight ofa large rug does not fall upon the clamps, thus obviating the danger oftearing the rugs within the clamps.

Additional objects and novel features of our invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specifi cations:

Figure 1 is a plan View of our rug stretching and cleaning device.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cleaning unit for cleaning the rugs.

Figure 3 is a side View of the rug cleaning and stretching device inplace over the cleaning unit.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the method of con- 105 necting theadjustable screw means to the inner frame.

Figure 5 is a side view of a rug holding clamp.

Figure 6 is a plan view of our rug supporting member for use insupporting large rugs.

ed to accommodate screw members 27.

Figure '7 is an end view of the same.

Figure 8 illustrates a manner of increasing the length of one of themembers of the inner frame.

Figure 9 illustrates a manner of increasing the size of the outer frame.

The rug stretching and cleaning device A is composed of an outer frame10 and an inner frame 11. The outer frame 10 is made up of angle sidemembers 12' and angle end members 13. Spaced bolt holes 14 through theseangle members 12 and 13 permit the adjustment of this frame in size, andby passing a bolt through one of the bolt holes 14 at either end of eachof the side and end angle members 12 and 13, a frame of the desired sizemay be formed. In order to insure the correct rectangular shape of theouter frame 10, to further support the junction of the angle members 12and 13 and to provide a support for the casters 15, we provide verticalangle members 16 which are securely bolted to both the angle sidemembers 12 and the angle end members 13 as illustrated in Figures 1 and3 of the drawings.

The inner frame 11 is composed of tubular end members 1'7 and tubularside members 18 within which the bars 19 which are integrally connectedto the elbow members 20 are slidably positioned. This inner frame 11 maybe adjusted in size by sliding the bar members 19 into or out of thetubular members 17 and 18. For example, when 'it is desired to enlargethe inner frame 11, this may be done by sliding the bar members 19farther out of the tubular membersl'l and 18. The frame 11 may be heldat any desired adjusted position against decreasing in size by means ofcollars 22 which are secured to the bar members 19 by means of setscrews 23. It is obvious that when a rug is being supported within theinner frame, there is no tendency for the frame 11 to expand and thus itis only necessary to prevent this frame from diminishing in size.

Set screws 24 directly through the tubular members 17 and 18 may beprovided for securing the bar members 19 at any position within thetubular members if desired.

The outer frame 10 is provided with a series of holes 25 at equalintervals along the horizontal surface thereof in order to allow bracketmembers 26 to be connected in any adjusted position thereto. Thesebracket members are internally thread- These screw members 27 areprovided with an outer square end upon which a crank handle 28 may beplaced in order to easily operate the'screw. The inner end of each ofthe screw members 27 is secured'to a split clamp member 29 which isadapted to fit over the tubular members 17 and 18 of the inner frame 11.In order that the split clamp 29 will not turn with the screw member 27,we provide a socket 30 riveted to the end of the screw member 27 whichis provided with a circumferential flange 32 adapted to fit in acomplemental circumferential groove 33 formed in the split clamp 29 asillustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. The socket 30 turns with thescrew i member 27 and the circumferential flange turns in the groove 33,the split clamp 29 not rotating therewith. The two portions of the splitclamp are secured together by a bolt means 31 which may be in the formof a thumb screw in order that the clamp 29 may be quickly removed fromthe inner frame 11.

To support a rug B within the inner frame 11, we provide a number ofclamps 34 which fit over the tubular members 1'7 and 18 of the innerframe 11. The clamps 34 are composed of two clamping angle members 16.

jaws 35 and 36 which extend in a manner to encircle the tubular members17 and 18 and are hinged at 37. The lower jaw 36 is provided with anumber of sharp tooth-like projections 33 which extend through apertures39 formed therefor in the upper jaw 35. A pair of upwardly extendingears 40 are formed integrally with the upper jaw 35 and between theseears 40 is pivoted a clamping handle 42. The clamping handle 42 isprovided near its pivot point with a lug projection 43 which is adaptedto be engaged by a catch 44. The catch 44 extends through aperturesformed in both the upper and lower jaws 35 and 36 and is provided with apin 45 extending entirely through the same to form a pivot point. Thepivoting pin 45 is adapted to be positioned in a notch 46 in thelowerjaw 36 as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. When the clamp34 is to be used for a thick rug such as a Chinese Oriental the pivotingpin 45 is positioned in a deeper notch 4'7. The collar portion 48 of theclamp 34, is adapted to encircle the tubular members 17 and 18 and isprovided with a pair of ball bearing members 49 which are set into thebody of the clamp and which provide a bearing means for the collarportion 48 so that the clamp may turn easily upon the tubular members.

When it is desired to clamp a rug within the of the catch member 44 andthe handle 42 and therefore will remain in this position until thehandle 42 is raised.

. When a large rug is to be supported by the clamps 34, it is possibleto secure an angle member 52, across the frame 11 beneath the rug tosupport a portion of the weight thereof. This angle member 52 issecurely held to the tubular members 18 of the frame 11 by means of aU-bolt 53 passing through a clamping plate 54. A pair of blocks 55 holdthe angle member 52 in proper relationship with the clamping plate 54and the U-bolt 53 as may be seen in Figure 7.

In order that the height between the floor and the'frame 10 may beadjusted it is possible to provide screw members 56 to which the casters15 are secured. These screw members 56 are provided wtih a squared end57 and may be operated by the crank handle 28 to raise or lower theframe 10. The screw members 56 pass through threaded collars 58 whichare secured to the vertical Casters 59 may be secured to the elbows 20of the inner frame 11 so that when the outer frame 10 is lowered, thecasters 59 on the inner frame 11 will contact with the floor, the clamps29 may be removed and the inner frame with the rug stretched thereinwill be free from the outer frame. The rug may be subjected to thecleaning action of the steam either while the inner frame 11 is clampedto the outer frame 10 or when the inner frame has been removed from theouter frame as desired.

If a rug B is used of too great a size to be included within the framesit is possible to enlarge the size of the frames by splicing the tubularmembers 17 and 18 in the manner illustrated in Figure 8 and by splicingthe anglemembers 12 and 13 in the manner illustrated in Figure 9.

Splicing in this manner will increase the length of the tubular membersand of the angle members to such an extent that virtually any size ofrug may be included in our rug cleaner and stretcher A.

In order that the entire surface of the rug B to be cleaned comes incontact with the cleaning steam from the cleaning unit C, we provide aseries of perforated pipes 60 which are formed preferably in the mannerillustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. t will be noted that some ofthese pipes are shorter than others. When it is desired to clean a smallrug the rug B is suspended over the shortest pipes 60 and steam isadmitted only to those pipes over which the rug extends. When a largerrug is used steam is admitted by means of the valves 62 to more of thepipes 60 so that the entire surface of the rug comes in contact withsteam emitted from these pipes but no steam is allowed to pass throughpipes over which the rug does not extend. The pipes 60 rest upon anglemembers 63 which may be bolted directly to the floor or to a concretebase and steam is admitted into the pipes through the steam inlet 64. I

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principlesof operation of our rug cleaning and stretching device and .while wehave endeavored to set forth the best embodi ment thereof, we desire tohave it understood that this is only illustrative of a means of carryingout our invention and that obvious changes may be made Within the scopeof the following claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

We claim:

l. A rug cleaning and stretching device including, a rug holding frame,clamps for engaging the marginal edge of the rug to hold'the same to theframe, said frame having an expandable nature and an adjustablestretching frame variable in size outside of said rug holding framehaving screw operated stretching means engageable with the rug holdingframe to stretch the rug for cleaning and stretching.

2. A rug cleaning and stretching device including, an adjustablestretching frame variable in size, an auxiliary rug supporting frameadapted to be placed Within said stretching frame, stretching devicesfor engaging with said rug supporting frame to stretch the rug into thedesired shape and removably connecting the rug supporting frame withsaid stretching frame to receive another rug and supporting frame.

3. A rug stretching and shaping device including, an adjustable framehaving a series of hand operated stretching members, an auxiliary frameadapted to be placed within the bounds of said stretching frame, clampscarried by said auxiliary frame adapted to pinch the marginal edge of arug to be stretched and shaped, adjustable means in said auxiliary frameadapted to permit the same to expand, and means for locking saidauxiliary frame in expanded position to hold the rug supported therebyWhile cleaning and shaping the same.

4. A device adapted to support rugs while cleaning and reshapingincluding, a rug supporting frame, a series of adjustable clamps forengaging the marginal edge of the rug, said frame having an expandablenature, locking means for locking said frame in expanded position whenthe rug is stretched to the desired shape, brace means for engaging theexpanded frame to hold the same in the desired shape and to overcomesagging of large rugs, and an adjustable stretching frame variable insize and having a series of stretching members adapted to engage withsaid rug supporting frame to shape the rug supporting frame in a mannerto stretch the rug supported thereby into the desired shape.

5. A rug stretching device including, a pair of frames, one of which isadapted to provide the stretching frame proper, means for adjusting saidstretching frame to different sizes, a series of screw operatedstretching members, handles for operating said stretching members, theother of said frames providing expandable and contractable rugsupporting means, means for connecting said stretching members to saidrug supporting frame, a series of adjustable rug clamps carried by saidrug supporting frame adapted to engage the rug marginally and means forlocking the rug supporting frame in stretched out position to hold therug supported thereby stretched while cleaning and shaping.

6. A rug stretching and shaping device including, a pair of frames, oneframe adapted to form the stretching medium and having a series ofstretching elements, the other frame adapted to form the rug supportingmeans and having rug engaging elements, means for disconnecting thestretching elements of the stretching frame from the rug supportingframe, and means for adjustably supporting each of said frames on wheelsupon the floor so that the rug supporting frame may be removed away fromsaid stretching frame after the rug has been cleaned and shaped.

7. A portable rug stretching device including, a pair of frames, one ofsaid frames constituting the stretching frame and adjustable to thedesired size, a series of stretching elements carried by said stretchingframe, adjustable caster wh els for supporting said stretching frame toraise and lower said frame, the other frame constituting a rugsupporting means and adjustable casters for supporting said rugsupporting frame to permit the same to be moved away from saidstretching frame.

8. A rug stretching device including, a stretching frame, an inner framecomposed of telescoping members Within said stretching frame, rugengaging clamps on said inner frame, and adjustable connecting meansbetween said frames to stretch said inner frame.

9. A rug stretching device including, an outer frame, an inner frameadjustable in size, a series of rug clamps on said inner frame, engagingclamps on said inner frame, and adjustable means connecting saidengaging clamps with said outer frame to expand or contract said innerframe.

10. A rug stretching device including, an expandable and contractiblestretching frame, an inner frame adjustable in size, a series of rugclamps on said inner frame, and adjustable means connecting said innerframe with said outer frame to expand or contract the inner frame.

JAMES H. PAMPAIAN. MANOUG H. EVKHANIAN.

